Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yellow Yosierra’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yellow Yosierra’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching, dense and full plants; dark green foliage; uniform flowering; early flowering, eight-week response time; large decorative-type inflorescences that are about 8.9 cm in diameter; yellow-colored ray florets; and excellent postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for about three weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Yellow Yosierra.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a mutation induction breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Fort Myers, Fla. and Salinas,Calif. The objective of the program is to create new Chrysanthemumcultivars with desirable inflorescence form and floret colors, goodsubstance, and excellent post-production longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum originated by exposing unrooted cuttings of theChrysanthemum cultivar Sierra, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,226,to X-ray radiation in November, 1995, in Fort Myers, Fla. Following theradiation treatment, the cuttings were rooted and terminal apices wereremoved (pinched) three times to promote lateral branch development.After lateral branches from the third pinch reached sufficient size,terminal cuttings were harvested, planted and flowered in a controlledenvironment in Salinas, Calif. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within thispopulation in January, 1997. The selection of this plant was based onits desirable inflorescence form and ray floret color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttingsharvested in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shown thatthe unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yellow Yosierra has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yellow Yosierra’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yellow Yosierra’ as a newand distinct Chrysanthemum:

1. Upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit.

2. Freely branching, dense and full plants.

3. Dark green foliage.

4. Uniform flowering.

5. Early flowering, eight-week response time.

6. Large decorative-type inflorescences that are about 8.9 cm indiameter.

7. Yellow-colored ray florets.

8. Excellent postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for about three weeks in an interiorenvironment.

Compared to plants of the parent cultivar, plants of the newChrysanthemum have yellow-colored ray florets whereas plants of thecultivar Sierra have white-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which more accurately describe the actual colorsof the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Yellow Yosierra’.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet comprises a close-upview of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typicalinflorescences and upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typicalleaves of the cultivar Yellow Yosierra.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a sideperspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Yellow Yosierra’ (left)and ‘Sierra’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of typical inflorescences of plants of ‘Yellow Yosierra’ (left) and‘Sierra’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown and flowered during the Autumn inLeamington, Ontario, Canada, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial potted Chrysanthemumproduction. Four unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in a 15-cmcontainer and pinched once. Plants used for this description were grownas disbudded-types. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesof typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar YellowYosierra.

Commercial classification: Decorative disbudded-type pottedChrysanthemum.

Parentage: Induced mutation of the Dendranthema grandiflora cultivarSierra, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,226.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.—Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21° C.

Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative potted Chrysanthemum typically grownas a disbudded-type. Inverted triangle; stems upright and outwardlyspreading giving a uniformly mounded appearance to the plant. Freelybranching; about four lateral branches develop after removal of terminalapex (pinching); dense and full plants.

Plant height.—About 32 cm.

Plant width.—About 38 cm.

Stem description.—Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Closeto 146A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 7.6 cm.Width: About 5.3 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Cuneate to truncate. Margin:Palmately lobed, sinuses between lateral lobes mostly divergent.Texture: Upper and lower surfaces with very fine pubescence; veinsprominent on lower surface. Petiole length: About 2.6 cm. Petiolediameter: About 2.5 mm. Color: Young foliage upper surface: 147A, shiny.Young foliage lower surface: 147B. Mature foliage upper surface: 147A,shiny. Mature foliage lower surface: 147B. Venation upper surface: 147A.Venation lower surface: 147B.

Inflorescence description:

Appearance.—Decorative inflorescence form with elongated oblong-shapedray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage. Disk andray florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescences initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to three weeks of long day/short night conditions after plantingfollowed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower abouteight weeks later; early flowering.

Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color andsubstance for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Quantity of inflorescences.—As a disbudded-type, all lateralinflorescences are removed to allow for maximum terminal inflorescencesize. One inflorescence per lateral stem; about four inflorescences perplant.

Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Color:Close to 143A.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.9 cm. Depth (height): About 2.8cm. Diameter of disc: About 4 mm, inconspicuous.

Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated, oblong. Orientation: Initially uprightand incurved, then perpendicular to peduncle and reflexed. Length: About4.7 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Apex: Rounded or emarginate. Margin: Entire.Texture: Smooth, glabrous, satiny. Number of ray florets perinflorescence: Numerous, about 248. Color: When opening: Yellow, 4A to4B. Fully opened, upper surface: Yellow, 4A to 4B. Fully opened, lowersurface: Yellow, 4C.

Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular. Apex: Serrated. Length: About 6 mm. Width:Apex: About 1.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: Few, less than 20. Color: Immature: 154A. Mature: Apex:Yellow, 9A. Mid-section: White, 155D. Base: White, 155D.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 17A. Pollen amount: Moderate to scarce. Pollen color: 17A.Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Chrysanthemums hasnot been observed on plants grown under commercial greenhouseconditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

